Breastfeeding mom cited for bringing son to jury duty

A breastfeeding mother from Lee's Summit is in trouble with the law, all because she brought her infant son with her for jury duty.

"I've never even had a speeding ticket," said Laura Trickle. "I have zero experience with legal issues."

Trickle was first summoned to report to jury duty in February when she was about to deliver her son. She got an extension until August, at which point she told the judge she was breastfeeding.

The judge told Trickle she could leave the child with a caretaker and pump her milk on jury duty breaks or bring a caretaker with her.

Trickle missed one date and then was told to return in September. When she did, she brought her son but no caretaker and was cited for contempt. The citation said Trickle "willfully and contemptuously appeared for jury duty with her child and no one to care for the child."

"He told me that I would be able to pump on breaks or that I could bring a caregiver," she said. "It does seem very unfair. We as breastfeeding mothers are just trying to do what's best for our children and we shouldn't be penalized and fined for it."

She said pumping wasn't a good alternative for her because her son won't take a bottle.

Trickle will go to court Thursday for the contempt citation. She faces community service time and/or a fine of up to $500.

One Missouri lawmaker said he wants to amend state law to exempt mothers from jury duty while breast feeding. Kansas and 11 other states have exemptions for nursing moms.

Michelle Sanders, a lactation consultant in private practice, said about 80 percent of moms in Kansas and Missouri start off breastfeeding.

"The laws in a state can definitely be a reflection of how much the culture in that area supports breastfeeding," she said. "We do see more of these laws that are a little more forward-thinking on the East Coast and the West Coast. Sometimes it takes a little longer for these changes to happen in the Midwest."

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